one of hagel's former republican colleagues, indiana's dick lugar, said tuesday it's hagel's politics, not his policy, that got him into trouble. >> senator hagel's main transgression is that he is a republican. who has questioned policies that are sacred among most conservative senators. the intensity of opposition that senator hagel is encountering is grounded in the resentments of some conservatives inside and outside the senate who regard his independent thinking as political blasphemy for which he should not be rewarded. >> that wasn't all lugar had to say. in his first major speech since leaving the u.s. senate the long-time senator said conservatives and the media have combined to bring any hope for legislating to a grinding halt. >> a no compromise vision of conservatism may score points with cob servetive talk show hosts and campaign givers. but in a democracy leadership requires an office holder to compromise, to prioritize, and sometimes to reverse one's self. perhaps the most potent force driving partisanship is the rise of a massive industry that makes money off of politi